Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-10-21
MORMONISM.
Report Of Majority Of the Utah Com.
mission OH Affairs in That
Territory.
Successful Working of the Edmunds
Law-Recommendations of the
Commission.
Washington special.

Q. L. Godfrey, A. B. Williams, anc
Arthur y. Thomas, constituting a majority
of the Utah Commission, have filed theil
annual report with the Secretary of the
Interior. A memorandum at the close OF
the document says that Commiss oners
Carlton and McClernand, dissenting from
many of the views expressed therein, dc
not sign the report. The population OF
the Territory is estimated at 100000, gain
OF nearly 10000 Since 1880. The valua-
ton of the property assessed is
given as $35, 655,S0 On April
| the total Mormon population OF
Utah, Idaho, Arizona, Wyoming, New
Mexico, Nevada, and Colorado was l62, 1888,
officially classed as follows: Three first
presidents, II apostles, 50 patriarchs, G,44l
seventies, 3, 1913 high priests, Il, All elders,
2,423 priests, 2,497 teachers, 6,354 deacous,
81 ,2S3 members, and 46, $3.50 children under
oyears of age. The total church popula-
ton of Utah was 132,297. The fittings in
1880 was $540,GOO. The strength OF the
non-Mormon element, which owns one
third of the assessed property, is estimated
at $4,000. The different religious denomi-
nations have now in Utah 60 churches,
which control 81 schools, with an aggre-
gate of 6,66S pupils and 230 teachers.
Since the passage of the Edmunds law
IN 1882, 541 persons have been indicted for
unlawful cohabitation, and 2S9 We're con-
victed. The number convicted of polygamy
was IA, many of the persons in dicted hav-
ing fled to escape arrest. The report COM
mends the officers of the Federal courts in
Utah for their enforcement of the law, and
says: 1.-The Mormon leaders and their
obedient followers have made no conces-
sion, and the issue is squarely maintained
between assumed revelations and the laws
of the land"
The report then cites the already pub
Eshed results of the August election under
the registry law, and of the Mormon con-
vention and election in June, in which a
constitution was adopted with view to APP
plication to Congress for admission as a
State. The Commission regards this action
as an effort to free the Mormon Church
from the tolls which the firm attitude of the
Government and the energetic course of
the Federal officers have thrown around it,
and opposes its consummation.
During the last year the names Of sixty
seven men have been reported 20 the Com
mission as having entered into polygamy.
The Commission renews its recommenda-
tons of last year, and also recommends
that authority be conferred upon the Gov
ernor of the Territory to appoint the fol-
lowing county officers: Selectmen, clerks,
assessors. recorders, and superintendent
of district schools.
In conclusion the Commission submits
that, in its opinion, the results which have
followed from the passage of the Edmunds
act have been very beneficial to the Ter
ritory. 1t has provided a fair, honest, and
orderly system of elections, and it is uni
versally conceded by AIormons and nom
Mormons that there has been no charge
nor even rumor of fraud in connection
with the registration of voters and the con-
duel of elections since the Commission
first commenced its work